Disconnectible driving mechanism



Jan. 27, 1931. L. D. NlLSON DISCONNECTIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 11, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 27, 1931. L. D. NILSON 1,790,243

DISCONNECTIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 11, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 fizz/afar I WW1 lemma, fl j2zZmz2 W g m WW5;

Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED stares mane PATENT QFFE" LEONARD NILSOLL' F WAYZATA, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO MARQ'[J'IE'I.".I.E"lliAN 'U Fi-QCTURING COMPANY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Y DISCONNECTIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM Application filed November 11, 1926. Serial No. 147,693.

The object of my invention is to provide a crane mechanism especially adapted for use in automobile service wrecking cars, the crane being electrically operated and of comarativel sim le durable and ineX ensive construction. 7

A further ob ect of my crane mechanism is to provide a device driven by an electric, motor or the like which may be controlled reducing the speed of the drum and at the i same time operatively, connecting parts of the mechanism whereby the drum may be operated at high speed for quickly adjusting the hook on the crane to the loadto be lifted. a A further object is to so arrange my improvedcrane so that it may be either motor driven or hand operated or maybe hand operated in conjunctionwith the motorffor 1 handling a load heavier than that capable J of being handled by the motor alone. a

A further object is to provide conveniently 'accessible and readily operable. means for disconnecting the motor from the crane mechanism when it is desired to operate the crane entirely by hand. I More particularlyit is my. objectto provide means for disconnecting the motor from the crane mechanism in the form of abracket;

having a motor supporting member rotatably mounted on the support whereby r0- eo tation of the support will move'the motor.

toward or away from that portion of the mechanism otlthe'crane with which the motor, when being used, is operatively connected.

for moving the motor-bodily to operative or inoperative positions relative to the crane mechanism and locking mechanism for locking the motor in either of such positions};

59 v A further object to provide a ratchet:

' mounting.

-' Still a'turther ob'ject'istoprovide means ,nism of the winding drum.

mechanism to coact with the crane mechanism as theload is being raised and readily operable means for rendering the ratchet mechanism inoperative when it is desired to lower the load or unwind the winding drum.

WViththese and other objects in view, my

invention consists 'in' the construction, arrangement and combinat on of thevarious parts of my device, whereby the objects con templated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

in which: p

F1gure 1 1s a s de elevation of my crane mechanism illustrating a hook thereon for engaging the loadto belifted. Figure 2 is an end elevation of mechanism. Y,

Figure 3" is. an enlargeddetail sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 and illustrates the motor mounting when inpomy crane sition for".operating the winding drum and the dotted line position illustrates the'inoperative position. v f v Figure 4; is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on theline 4-4 of Figure 1 and illustrates the construction of the motor Figurefi is ais'ectional View taken on the .line 55 of Figure 2 and shows an end view of the speed reducing mechanism, parts of the frame to which it is attached be1ng shown I in section. I

' F gure/61s an enlarged deta1l view taken on the line 6- 6 :01" Figure 2 and illustrates theconstruction of the speed reducing m'ech-,

anism. v

Figure? is an enlarged detail view taken onthe 11118 7 of F1gure2.

Figure 8- is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 8&8 of Figure 2 and shows the-gears-used 1n the speed reduclng mechanism of the crane and" Figure is a sectional view on the line 9 -9.

of Figure; 6*il1ustrati1'1g the ratchet mecha- Inthe accompanying drawings I have used A is comprised of base angles 10 which may be secured to the bottom of the bed of a wrecking car or to some suitable support in a garage by bolts 12 or the like extending through the horizontal flanges of the angles 10. Pivoted to the angles 10 by means of pivot bolts 14 are upright boom members 16 of angle construction. The upper ends of the members 16 are secured to a socket fitting 18 whereby they are rigidly connected together at their upper ends. The socket member 18 is provided with ears 20 to whichare pivoted brace bars 22. The brace bars 22 are made in upper andilower sections, the sections being adjustable secured to each other by means of bolts 24 extending through openings 26 formed in the brace bars 22. A plurality of the openings 26 are provided whereby this adjustment ispossible by inserting the bolts 24' selectively through different openings in the brace bars 22. From the foregoing it will be obvious that any desired overhang or angle of the top of the boom of the crane may be had within certain limits by adjusting the" bars 22 relative. to each other. 7

Rotatably mounted in the socket member 18 is a pulley fitting 28. The pulley fitting 28 has a spindle portion 30 which extends into the socket opening of the socket member 18. Rotatably supported between the side members of the pulley fitting 28 is a pulley 32. a

A clevis member 34 is pivotally supported on the socket member 18 andis designed for receiving the hook 36. wBCLlIGCl to the hook 36 is a chain 38 which extendsdownwardly therefrom and around a pulley 4O thence upwardly and over the pulley 32. The chain 38 then extends downwardly as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1 to a winding drum which will hereinafter be described. The pulley40 supports a pair oflinks 42 to which are pivoted a swivel fitting 44. A lifting hook 46- is rotatably suspended from the swivel fitting 44 and is designed to engage a portion of an automobile or the like when the crane is being used.

.On the upright boom members 16 are mounted a pair of bearing members 48. R0- tatably mounted in the bearings 48 is a shaft '50. The shaft 50 has secured thereto a gear wheel 52. A drum 51 is mounted upon the shaft 50 and one end of the chain 38 is secured to the drum so that the chain may be wound therearound. Rotation of the gear 52 or shaft 50 will impart rotary movement I to the drum 51.

For rotating the gear wheel 52 and con-' sequently the shaft 50 I provide an electric asused in starting automobile engines and can be driven from the starting storage bat-' The motor 54 is provided with the usualflange 64 whereby the motor is supported on the crane frame.

Motor mounting "eccentm'call y arranged The motor 54 is supported upon a bracket B comprising a ring like member 66. The member 66 has an angle shaped base-68 resting against one'of the angle side members or uprights 16 which is secured thereto by means of bolts 70. The ring like member 66 has received therein a motor support 72 which is also ring'or tubular shaped whereby it may rotate within the member 66. The motor support 72 has a flange portion 74 defining thereby a shoulder on one end and a plate 7 6 bolted to the other end for properly positioning it within the member 66 to prevent end play therein. Bolts 78 are provided for thejpurpose of securing the plate 76 to the motor support 72 and are threaded into lugs 80 formed on the motor support. The motor support 72 is free to'rotate within its mounting or member 66.

The motor support 72 has formed ofi'lcenter therefrom a flange 80 having an enlarged opening 82.. The flange 80 coacts or registers with the flange 64 of the motor and the two fianges 80 and 64 are fastened together by cap screws 84. The motor 54 is thus mount ed upon the support 72 and in turn upon the member or bracket 66. A flange 86 on the motor 54 is receivedwithin the opening 82 whereby'the motor is properly positioned relative to the motor support 72. A cone shaped hub 88' is formed on the motor 54 and extends through an opening 90formed in the plate 7 6. The pinion 60 is secured upon the shaft 56 beyond the hub 88 and outside of the-plate 76' asclearly illustrated in' Figure 4 of the drawings.

Thefmotor; mounting is positioned on one 7 of the'upright members 16adjacent the gear wheel 52 whereby the pinion 60 may mesh with the gear wheel 52. Itwill be noted that the hub 88 or center of the'shaft56 is eccentrica-lly arranged relativeto'the ring like member 66. r r

1 From the foregoing it will be obvious that rotation of the motor support 72' within the drum or ring like member "66 will move the pinion 60 toward or away from the gear wheel 52 whereby the pinion and the gear may mesh or not mesh as desired. Rotation maybe imparted to the motor support by manipulating a handle 92 formed on the support 72.

- Rotation of the motor support 7 2 within the member 66 is limited by alug 94 formed on the member 66 which engages either of the shoulders 96 or 98 formed'onthe flange 80 of the motor support. 1 1

For locking the motor support 7 2 in either of its limited positions I provide a spring actuated locking pin 100, having knob 102 whereby it may be engaged. The pin 100 em I f tends into an opening 104 formed in the sup port 72. A spring 106 is mounted on thepin 100 and forces it into the opening 104. An opening 108 is also formed in the support 72 'sorthat the pin 100, when the motor support l 7 2 is rotated to the other of its positions, may

fit into. The support 72 may thus be locked in two different positions by'the pin 100 fitting into either the opening 104 or 108.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that in one of the rotated positions oft-he motor support 72, the pinin'60 will be in mesh with the gear wheel 52. This position is shown in full lines in Figure-1 of the drawings. hen the support is in its other position the pinion will be disengaged from the gearas shown in dottedlines in theFigure 1. The disengaged position is also illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3.

For operating the shaft manually I provide a crank 110 having a hub 112' designed to fit over either end of'the shaft 50. The hub 112 is provided with opposite notches 114 3 which coact with either ofthe pins-116 extending through theshaft 50. The crank110 is thus operatively connected to; the shaft 50. In using the crane as a hand operated mechanism; the handle 92 is manipulated to disengage thepinion from the gear wheel 1 52 whereby the motor will not be rotated.

In order to operatively connect the shaft 50' with thedruin 51 whereby the chain 38 may be woundthereon or therefrom and to further provide for a direct connection where by the drum may be operated at high speed or through reduction in gearing the drum may be operated at low speed'I provide the following'described'mechanism;

Secured to one of theend flanges ofthe drum 51 is an internal gear 118 having in-' wardly extending teeth120. It may here be mentioned that the drum 51 is provided with rollers'53 and that the bearings 48 are provided with rollers49 forfproviding roller bearings. There are rollers 53 at each end of "the drum 51 and they'are' heldin proper spaced position by a sleeve 55. The rollers 49 in the bearings 48 are retained within the bearingsby' collars "57 pinned'to' the shaft '50.

Received within the internal gear118 is a gear 122'having teeth 124 thereon meshing with the teeth 120. The gear 122-is mounted f eccentrically on the shaft 50 by reason of its. being rotatably mounted on an eccentric member 126. Theeccentric member 126 is secured by a'key 128 to the shaft 50 whereby" it rotates in unison therewith.- Rollers 1301cducethe friction between, the eccentric mem- .ber 126 and the hubof the gear 122. j

The type of gearing just described is a'dlfferential reductionand in order that rotation of the shaft 50 may cause rotation of the gear 118 at a reduced speed 1t is necessary thatmeans be provlded for'preventing rotationof the gear 122. Toprevent rotation iof'the gear 122 I provide abell crank lever "132 pivoted-on a pin 134 supported by ears 136 extending .froin the web of the gear 122. The bell cranklever 132 is spring actuated in one direction by a spring 138." j

-. -Mounted between theecc'entric 126 and the bearing 48 adjacent thereto is a disk 140 hav ing an annular flange 142 nearitsperiphery.

Thefiange 142. extends toward the gear. 118

and is shownzin section in Figure 8.

The disk 140 is rotatably mountedrelative to the-shaft 50 and hasfinterposed between its hub and the shaft, rollers 141 for forming a roller bearing. The disk 140 is; however,-

maintained in fixed position relative to the frame A oftthe cranefmechanism whereby it does not rotaterelative to the frame. r-This is accomplished by the lugs 143 formed integrallv with thedis'k 140 which engage the inwardly'extending legs of one of theupright angle members 16. 1

V v A boss.144 is provided-onthe disk 140 and has a shaft146rotatably mounted therein. 1 Rotatably mountedon an enlarged portion '148 of the shaft 146 isa roller 150. A flange 152'is secured to the shaft 146 and adjacent the roller 150. The flange 152-overhangs the periphery of the roller 150 whereby the bell crank lever 132 in its full line position shown 'in Figure 6 isheld in engagement with the roller 150 against the action of the spring 138 and thus rotation of the gear'122 is prevented. 1 7

To provide for the engagement between the roller 150v and'the lever 1321 cut the flange 142 away as at andi147 whereby I suflicientspace is left between the cut away v portion 145 and the roller 150 to allo-w'the "lever 132 to be positioned' therebetween. The

weight of the loadfon the chain 38 tendsto rotate the bellcrankzlever'132in one direction to'keep itin' engagementwith-the surface of the roller 150."

tated to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 81 withithe. cut away portion 154 Thefiange 152'is providediwith a cut away Y 8 portion 154 whereby' when the flange'is ronotches 160 in its periphery.

ber and the disk will rotate in unison with the shaft 50. The disk 158 isprovidedwith When the bell crank'lever-132 is free to be actuated by the spring 138 the end 162thereof will engage the periphery of the disk 158 and when the end 162 registerswith agnot'ch 160 it will be received therein due to th sition, the pin 166 engages the'hole 170 and when in another position itengages the hole y 17 2 as 1llustratedin-F1gure 5 of the drawings.

In the operation of the crane, when a load "is being raised, it is'desirable to prevent any reverse movementiof thewmding drum 51 and to guard against this 1 provide ratchet teeth 174 formed on the gear-118 adjacent the periphery thereof. Integrally formed on the disk 140 is a sectional boss 176 having received therein the shaft 178. -Secured to the pin 178 is a pawl180 for-'coa-cting with the ratchet teeth 174. The pawl 180 is yieldingly held in engagement with the teeth'by Fri aspring 182 interposed between thepa'wl and a shoulder 184 formed in the boss 176. A

knob 186 is provided for the convenience of the operatorfor withdrawing the pawl 180 from engagement with the ratchet teeth 174.

The shaft'178has a pin 188 therein designed to be slidablyr'eceived in a notch 190 formed in the boss 176 to prevent rotation.

of the pawl 180. When it is desired to disengage the pawl 180 from. the ratchet teeth 17 4, then the shaft 178may be withdrawn whereby the pin 188 is clear of the end of the boss 176 and the shaft 17 8 .may then be rotated a-quarter turn and the pin 188 allowed to engagethe notch 192 for maintaining the pawl disengaged.

' Practical operation of my crane mechanism In the operation of my device through the motor 541 first move it to one of. its positions where the pinion 6 6 and the gear wheel 52 are in mesh. The motor will then impart rotation to the shaft wh'en the switch 62 is closed. VJ-hentheswitchl 62 is thrown to one of its positions'it will rotatethe shaft 50 i inone direction and when thrown'to the other 7 of its positionsit willxrotate the same shaftv in an opposite direction. For adjusting the hook46 to position for enga in the load to A 2. b b

' be lifted, the handle 164 is rotated to the position where the pin 166 can engage the -hole 172. f This allows the bell crank lever 132 to assume the dotted line position shown.

in Figure 6 due to the pressure exerted on beoperated in unison. Inasmuchas several of the teeth on the gear 122 are in mesh With several ofthose on the internal gear 118, the drum 51 will also be rotatedin unison with the shaft 50. In this manner a. direct connection. is had between the shaft 50 andi the 'drum 51 and the hook 46 may be quickly;

adjusted as desired.

7 I During such adjustment of the hook 46, the pawl 180 is'moved to position where it is not in. engagement with the ratchet teeth 174 on the gear 118 so that'the parts of the hoisting mechanism move freely.

After the load has been engaged and it is desired to raise it, the speed reducing mechanism must be usedin order that the motor will have suflicient power for raising the load The'operator moves the handle 164 to position where the pin 166 will be received in the hole 170 and the flange 152 will be in the full line position illustrated in Figure 8. As the shaft .50 is further rotated, and consequentlythelever 132 with it, the operator engages the free end of thebell crank lever 132 and moves'it against the action of'the spring 138. This brings the bell crank lever to engagement with the annular fiange 142 and rotation of the shaft 50. brings the lever to position where it registers with thespace between the cut away portion 145 and the roller 150. The pressure imposed on the lever by the operator will then cause the lever to assume the full line position illustrated in Figure 6 between the cut away portion and the "rollerandthe lever is thereafter retained against the roller by further rotation of'the shaft. Whenthe parts are in this position, the flange 152 prevents action of the spring 138 to'disengagelthe'l'ever from the roller and the end 162. of the lever is disengaged from the notches 1600f the disk 158. Rotation of the shaft 50 nowcauses an eccentric motion to be transmitted"through the'eccentrio member 126 to the gear 122. This motion drum cannot rotate in a reversedirection when the motor is stopped.

Handoperation of the device is identical to motor operation thereof except that the motor is moved to position .where'thepinion the lever by the spring 138. \Vhen the end 162 of the lever 136 engages the periphery of r the disk 158, the disk, upon being rotated by the motor 54, will bring one of the notches 160 to'register with the end 162 of the lever whereupon the lever drops into the notch. Thereafter the shaft 50, eccentric member 126, disk 158, lever 132, and gear 122 will 60 is disengaged from the gear wheel 52 and the crank 110 is utilized for rotating the Shaft 50.

From, the description of my crane mechanism it will be obvious that I have provided an eiiicient crane which may be motor driven a and wh rein mechanism is provided for operating the winding drum at high or low speed whereby a minimum of time is eX-- pended in the operation of the crane. I have designed the parts of my mechanism whereby a standard starting motormay be utilized for operating the crane so that no additional I parts of my invention, without departing V I storage battery must be carried by the wrecking car.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various from the real spirit and purpose of my .in vention, and it is my intention to cover by my. claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, whichmay be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a gear to be driven,

a motor having a pinion for ooaction with provided with an opening, said motor having a hub to fit through saidopening, a removable head on the other end of said drum for retaining the same against longitudinal movement with respect to said bracket, said removable head having an opening for said hub of said motor to fit.therethrough,-sa1d openings being eccentrically arranged with respect to the periphery ofsaid drum whereby rotation of the drum will cause selective engagement and disengagement of said pinion with respect to said gear, a handleon said drum for rotating the same andlocking means for retaining the drum in selected po-'- sition.

Des Moines, IoWa, Nov. 6, 1926.

LEQNARD D. 'NILSON.

said gear and a mounting for said motor com- I prising a bracket, a rotatably mounted drum therein, one end of said drum having a head provided with an opening, said motor hav-. ing ahub to fit through said opening, a removable head onthe other end of said drum for retaining the same against longitudinal movement with respect to said bracket, said removable head having an opening for said hub of said motor to fit therethrough, said openings being eccentrically arranged with Joe respect to the periphery of said drum whereby rotation of the drum will cause selective engagement and disengagement of said pinion with respect to said gear. 7

2. In combination with a gear to be driven, a motor having a pinion for ooaction with said gear and a mounting for said motor comprising abracket, a rotatably mounted drum therein, one end of said drum having a 7 head provided with an opening, said motor having a hub to fit through said opening and a flange, means for securmg said flange to said drum head, a removable head on the therein, oneend of said drum having-a head 

